Terminal for electrical meter socket



Oct. 13, 1964 J. T. FISHER TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL METER SOCKET Filed March 5, 1962 6 7 2 1 r 3 M \w 34 a Q M 6 0 Z J. J 3

INVENTOR. James T. Fisher ATTOQNEY United States Patent 3,152,857 TERMINAL FGR ELECTRICAL METER SOCKET James T. Fisher, Decatur, Gm, assignor to B & C Metal Stamping Company, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Mar. 5, 1962, her. No. 177,561 4 Glaims. (Cl. 339259) This invention relates to a spring jaw spade terminal for an electrical meter socket, and is more particularly concerned with a spring jaw spade terminal having an insert which will act outwardly to hold the spring jaw partially open when the spring jaw is empty so as to maintain the spring jaw in a partially opened condition and act inwardly when the spring jaw has received a spade so as to reinforce the clamping pressure on the spade.

The strength of a conventional spring jaw of meter socket has been increased to such an extent in recent years that it is diificult to insert a spade therein, the spade urging the spring jaw members apart as it is being inserted. Greases have been employed to ease the job required to force the spade into a spring jaw. In some instances, spring jaw members have been forced open utilizing screw drivers and the like; however, this tends to weaken or break the jaw and defeats the purpose of having high force clamping a spade.

In the conventional spring jaw type of spade terminal, the two inner faces of the contact members in the terminal are together in their empty position and the entering spade must urge these jaws apart to a fully open position. The first spades are usually pushed into the jaw terminals of the socket on a customers premises when the meter installer gives service to the customer. In doing so, all spades on the meter must simultaneously force open a like number of jaw terminals, thereby multiplying the force necessary to insert a meter by the number of spades on the meter.

Briefly, the present invention overcomes the problems by providing a spring jaw for an electrical meter socket, the spring jaw having jaw members which are biased into a completely closed position. Within the spring jaw is an insert which is sufficiently wide to exert pressure on the outer legs of the spring jaw members so as to maintain the inner legs or contact members thereof in a partially spaced condition. On the other hand, the insert is of such configuration that when the spade is inserted within the inner legs of the jaw members, the insert exerts an inward force thereon, thereby reinforcing the biased condition of the spring jaw terminal.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spring jaw terminal with a spacer which will maintain the spring jaw memberthereof in a partially open position when empty and will aid in exerting an inward force on the spade when the spade is received between the inner legs of the jaw terminal.

Another object or the present invention is to provide a spring jaw terminal with an insert which does not reduce the clamping force exerted on a spade, but does reduce the force necessary to be exerted on a meter in inserting the spades thereof into this terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insert for a spring jaw type terminal, whichinsert will protect the jaw from being broken, abused or sprung beyond its elastic limits. p

Another. object of the present invention is to provide an insert for a spring jaw terminal, which insert is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efiicient in operation.

Another'object of the present invention is to provide an insert for a spring jaw terminal, which insert does not appreciably increase the cost beyond that of a conventional spring jaw terminal.

3,152,857 Patented Get. 13,1964

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corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a meter socket, showing the spring jaw terminal of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the spring jaw terminal shown in FIG. 1, the jaw members being in their normal, empty condition.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the insert which constitutes an integral part of the spring jaw terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view similar to PEG. 2 and showing a spade being received within the spring jaw terminal of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention is not limited'to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 1% denotes generally a spring jaw, spade terminal mounted on insulator or terminal block it, the block 11 being secured to the back wall 12 of a meter socket box. The terminal It? includes a conventional spring jaw 13 and an insert 14. The spring jaw F3 is formed from a flat rectangular sheet of metal bent to a U-shape and having an apertured securing web or base 16 which carries a pair of opposed jaw members with spaced parallel outer legs 17 and 18 extending normal to the base 16 from the extremities thereof. The pair of legs 17 and 18 are approximately parallel to each other and of the same length, the outer ends of the legs 17 and 18 being reverse bent inwardly to form a pair of opposed, downwardly or inwardly converging flat lips Zil and 21 which act as camming members for receiving the spade 22 of a meter.

Projecting downwardly or inwardly from the inner ends of the lips 29 and 21, respectively, are the contact members or inner legs 23 and 24, the inner surfaces of which are, in normal construction, contiguous along the vertical center-line of the spring jaw 13, being urged together by the of the spring jaw 13 are urged apart by downward movement of the spade 22, the inner surfaces of the contact members 23 and 24engage the outer surfaces of spade 22 and are urged by spring force thereagainst so as to clamp spade 22 therebetween.

The inner spring member or insert 14 is also formed mounting the terminal 10 on the block. The legs 26 and 27 of the insert 14 are received between legs 17 and 18 of spring jaw 13 with the contact members 23a and 24 being between the legs 26 and 27. The upper ends of legs 26 and 27 are provided with diverging flanges 28 and 29, the outer edges 32 and 33 which terminate below the junction of the legs 17 and 18 and the lips 20 and 21, 7 respectively. The junctions or common edges 39, 31 of theflanges 28 and 29 andlegs 26 and 27 are'slightly below the junction of lips 26 and 21 and legs 23 and 24,

and are spaced slightly, as indicated in FIG. 2, in the empty condition of terminal ill from the outer surfaces of the contact members 25 and 24, the space between the junctions 30 and El and the outer surfaces of the contact members and 24 being such that these junctions 3b and Eli, and the outer ends of flanges 2% and 29 act against the outer surfaces of the contact members 23 and 24 and lips 2b and Ill to urge them inwardly when the spade 22 is received therebetween, as illustrated in FIG. 5, thereby increasing the clamping force of the spring jaw 13.

According to the present invention, a means is provided on the insert for maintaining the contact members 23 and 24 in a partially opened condition, such as shown in FIG. 2, whereby the spade 22 may more readily pene trate between the contact members 23 and 24. Preferably this means includes a pair of opposed, outwardly struck fingers, protrusions, arms or flange members 4d and ll on the legs 26 and 27 respectively. These outward struck flange members id and 4-1 are preferably rectangular members formed by stamping at the junctions or common edges 3"? and 5S and are sutiiciently long to protrude beyond the extremities of insert 14 and engage and act outwardly against the inner surfaces of the legs 17 and id, intermediate the ends thereof, but adjacent the outer or upper ends of l gs l7 an" 13. Thus, in the empty position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the legs 17 and 13 are held in a slightly diverging, outwardly displaced, inwardly biased condition whereby the lips 26? and 21 hold the upper end portion of the inner legs or contact members and 24 in an inwardly and downwardly tapering or converging condition such that the inner ends of the contact members 23 and 24 touch each other, the inner suriaces thereof forming a generally triangular shaped opening for receiving the spade 22. The space at the upper end of the contact members 2-3 and 24, however, is slightly less than the thickness of the spade 22, preferably. The outward force exerted by the insert 14, i.e. by the members and 41, is insufiicient to urge the spring jaw beyond its elastic limits and hence the original clamping force of the spring jaw 13 is preserved by inwardly biased condition thereof.

It is therefore seen that my insert 14 will maintain the jaw members of the spring jaw 13 in tension, in a partially open condition at all times. Thus, the insertion of the spade 22 is materially aided, with less pressure being required to insert the spade 22 than would be required with the conventional terminals. At the same time, the present device, when spade 22 is received, applies the same clamping force or pressure against the sides of the spade 22 as do the conventional terminals.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a terminal for a meter box of the class having a spring jaw and an insert, said spring jaw comprising a web, a pair of outer legs extending from the ends of said web in spaced relationship, and a pair of inner jaws carried by and between said outer legs, said insert including a U-shaped member within the confines of said outer legs and having a pair of insert legs disposed between said outer legs and said inner jaws, the combination therewith of opposed outwardly extending protrusions substantially smaller than said insert legs and inwardly of the edges of said insert legs, said protrusions being integrally connected to and projecting from the central portion of said insert legs and engaging said outer legs, said insert being so, constructed and arranged that said protrusions maintain said outer legs in an outwardly displaced inwardly biased condition when said spring jaw is empty such that said inner jaws are urged apart by said outer legs, the space between said inner jaws being such as to require minimal movement of said inner jaws laway from each other when receiving a spade inserted therebetween, the movement of said inner jaws being sufficient to overcome the outward displacement of said outer legs by said protrusions.

2. In a terminal for a meter box of the class having a spring jaw and an insert, said spring jaw comprising a web, a pair of outer legs extending from the ends of said web in spaced relationship, a pair of lips extending from the ends of said legs in converging fashion toward said web, and a pair of inner legs extending from the ends of said lips toward said web and between said outer legs, said inner legs terminating adjacent and in spaced rela tionship to said web, said insert including a U-shaped member with a base contiguous with and inwardly of said web, and a pair of insert legs aligned with said outer and inner le s and respectively positioned between an inner leg and an outer leg, said insert legs terminating inwardly of the junction of said outer legs and said lips, the combination therewith of opposed outwardly extending protrusions substantially smaller than said insert legs and inwardly of the edges of said insert legs, said protrusions being integrally connected to and projecting from the central portion of said insert legs and engaging said outer legs, said insert being so constructed and arranged that said protrusions maintain said outer legs in an outwardly displaced inwardly biased condition when said spring jaw is empty such that said inner legs are urged apart by said lips, the space between said inner legs when said spring jaw is empty being such as to require minimal movement of said inner legs away from each other for receiving a spade inserted therebetween.

3. In a terminal for a meter box of the class having a spring jaw and an insert, said spring jaw comprising a web, a pair of legs extending from the ends of said web in spaced relationship, a pair of lips extending from the ends of said legs in converging fashion toward said web, and a pair of inner legs extending from the ends of said lips toward said web and between said outer legs, said inner legs terminating adjacent and in spaced relationship to said web, said insert including a U-shaped member with a base contiguous with and inwardly of said web, a pair of insert legs, the ends of said insert legs terminating inwardly of the junction of said outer legs and said lips, the combination therewith of opposed diverging outwardly extending protrusions connected by their inner ends to said insert legs and engaging said outer legs, said insert being so constructed and arranged that said protrusions maintain said outer legs in an outwardly displaced inwardly biased condition when said spring jaw is empty such that said inner legs are urged apart by said lips, said insert legs being so constructed and arranged as to require minimal movement of said inner legs away from each other when a spade is received between said inner legs, there being provided spaces between said insert legs and said lips when said spring jaw is empty, said spaces being sufliciently small that when said spade is inserted between said inner legs said insert legs are engaged by said lips for urging said inner legs toward clamping engagement with said spade.

4. In a terminal for a meter box of the class having a spring jaw and an insert, said spring jaw comprising a web, a pair of outer legs extending from the ends of said web in spaced relationship, a pair of lips extending from the ends of said legs in converging fashion toward said web, and a pair of inner legs extending from the ends of said lips toward said web and between said outer legs, said inner legs terminating adjacent and in spaced relationship tosaid web, said insert including a U-shaped member with a'base contiguous with and inwardly of said web, a pair of converging legs projecting from said base, and diverging flanges connected to the outer ends of said converging legs, the ends of said flanges terminating inwardly of the junction of said outer legs and said lips, the combination therewith of opposed outwardly extending protrusions carried by said converging legs and 5 engaging said outer legs, said insert being so constructed and arranged that said protrusions maintain said outer legs in an outwardly displaced inwardly biased condition when said spring jaw is empty such that said inner legs are urged apart by said lips, said flanges being so con- 5 structed and arranged that when a spade is received between said inner legs the outer ends of said flanges are engaged by said lips and the junction of said flanges and said converging legs are engaged by the outer surfaces of said inner legs whereby said inner legs are urged toward clamping engagement with said spade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,906,469 Knutson May 2, 1933 2,380,114 Kurillo July 10, 1945 2,665,415 Kojis Ian. 5, 1954 3,076,953 Sloop Feb. 5, 1963 

1. IN A TERMINAL FOR A METER BOX OF THE CLASS HAVING A SPRING JAW AND AN INSERT, SAID SPRING JAW COMPRISING A WEB, A PAIR OF OUTER LEGS EXTENDING FROM THE ENDS OF SAID WEB IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP, AND A PAIR OF INNER JAWS CARRIED BY AND BETWEEN SAID OUTER LEGS, SAID INSERT INCLUDING A U-SHAPED MEMBER WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID OUTER LEGS AND HAVING A PAIR OF INSERT LEGS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID OUTER LEGS AND SAID INNER JAWS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF OPPOSED OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PROTRUSIONS SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN SAID INSERT LEGS AND INWARDLY OF THE EDGES OF SAID INSERT LEGS, SAID PROTRUSIONS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO AND PROJECTING FROM THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID INSERT LEGS AND ENGAGING SAID OUTER LEGS, SAID INSERT BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT SAID PROTRUSIONS MAINTAIN SAID OUTER LEGS IN AN OUTWARDLY DISPLACED INWARDLY BIASED CONDITION WHEN SAID SPRING JAW IS EMPTY SUCH THAT SAID INNER JAWS ARE URGED APART BY SAID OUTER LEGS, THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID INNER JAWS BEING SUCH AS TO REQUIRE MINIMAL MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER JAWS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHEN RECEIVING A SPADE INSERTED THEREBETWEEN, THE MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER JAWS BEING SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE OUTWARD DISPLACEMENT OF SAID OUTER LEGS BY SAID PROTRUSIONS. 